Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

MTA Selects Transit App Contest Winners

By Matt Draper | February 2, 2012 7:39pm
The MTA named the Embark NYC app the winner of its MTA App Quest contest.
The MTA named the Embark NYC app the winner of its MTA App Quest contest.
View Full Caption
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

MANHATTAN – It’s getting easier to “embark” on subway trips across the city, thanks to a handful of new apps for phones and other devices.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced Thursday that Embark NYC won the grand prize in the MTA App Quest, the authority’s competition to create the most helpful app for city straphangers.

Embark NYC, built by Taylor Malloy and David Hodge of tech firm Embark, is an all-purpose transit navigation app that provides trip planning, service advisories, interactive maps, schedules and more. It’s available for Androids and Apple iOS devices.

Embark NYC, which was awarded $5,000, was one of 42 apps submitted as part of the competition, which began last July and was determined by a panel of nine judges from media and tech firms in the city voting based on creativity, originality and design, among other criteria. 

On Feb. 2, 2012, MTA Chairman Joseph J. Lhota (center) announced the winners of the MTA App Quest competition, which sought the best apps for transit riders. In this photo, Chairman Lhota presents the Grand Prize to David Hodge, Tom Hauburger, Taylor Malloy and Ian Leighton for Embark NYC.
On Feb. 2, 2012, MTA Chairman Joseph J. Lhota (center) announced the winners of the MTA App Quest competition, which sought the best apps for transit riders. In this photo, Chairman Lhota presents the Grand Prize to David Hodge, Tom Hauburger, Taylor Malloy and Ian Leighton for Embark NYC.
View Full Caption
Metropolitan Transportation Authority / Patrick Cashin

Second prize went to Free NYC Subway Locator by Flatiron Factory. The app, available for Apple iOS devices, automatically calculates the nearest subway entrances and lists them by direction, in order of proximity.

Third prize was awarded to Notify Me NYC by the Cortelyou Collective. This app, for Android devices, notifies users about subway, Metro-North or LIRR train service problems based on their commuting schedules.

The contest also featured two Popular Choice Awards determined by public voting. The Grand Prize was awarded to the CityMaps app, which combines real-time information about local businesses with subway information about how to reach them. 

Second prize was awarded to Right Track: Metro North, which allows Android users to get quick access to Metro-North schedules, real-time status updates and other info.

In addition to cash prices, all winners received gifts provided by MTA licensees.

While most straphangers polled Thursday at the 86th Street/Lexington Avenue subway station were not familiar with Embark NYC, many thought the app would come in handy to better navigate the city.

“I think it would be really helpful,” said Dilon Rogers, 20, an NYU student who uses other transit apps like HopStop to get around New York. “It’s definitely something I would download and use.”

Commuter Jessica Henshaw of the Upper East Side, who was waiting for a Downtown express train, agreed that more detailed transportation apps were a good idea.

“I have the NYC bus and subway app,” Henshaw said. “I use it every day.”

However, not everyone said they would rush to download the app. 

“In terms of weekend [train] schedules, that could be helpful,” said Andrew Oliver, of Astoria. “But I kind of have the subway map in my head.”